Gan – MOH accepts IRC’s findings and recommendations

A task force has been set up by Health Minister Gan Kim Yong to boost infection control measures in all hospitals following the release of the report yesterday (8 Dec) by the Independent Review Committee (IRC) that was tasked to look into the outbreak of the hepatitis c virus at the Singapore General Hospital (SGH).

The task force headed by Ministry of Health’s (MOH) new Minster of State Chee Hong Tat will study how surveillance and detection of infectious diseases can be improved, both at the hospital and community levels.

Noting that the outbreak “is a very painful incident”, Mr Gan added that SGH and MOH will also be setting up separate panels to assess what disciplinary action, if any needs to be taken against key individuals involved in the incident. The ministry panel will review actions of ministry staff, while the SGH panel to be set-up by Singhealth will consist of individuals from outside Singhealth and the civil service who “understand the level of accountability”, said Mr Gan.

Other measures include the designation of the Communicable Disease Division as responsible for surveillance of all infectious diseases and centralising all notifications, analyses of infectious disease data. This is intended to close gaps within MOH.

Adding that the IRC report was very through, Mr Gan said that there is no need for a Committee of Inquiry to be set-up to look into the outbreak.

Source: “Hep C outbreak: New task force to boost infection control in hospitals” (The Straits Times, 9 December 2015);“MOH to set up taskforce to better manage infectious disease outbreaks” (TODAY, 9 December 2015);“MOH Accepts Findings of the Independent Review Committee” (Press Release- Ministry of Health, 8 December 2015)